Sports: Let us be fair to Dhoni, say former cricketers after India loses one-day series to Bangladesh

Being the captain of a losing side is indeed frustrating to anyone and this only made Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni say he is ready to quit captaincy after losing the One-day series to Bangladesh on Sunday.

MS Dhoni has a terrifc record in One-dayers

Rubbing salt into the wound came former cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi’s comment that Dhoni was not ‘captain cool’ anymore. He found him restless and ruffled. In a lighter vein, Bedi suggested that the practice of yoga might help the beleaguered captain in staying cool on the field.
The former top spinner did not leave it at that. He then criticised Dhoni’s conduct on the field – his collision with Bangladesh’s young star Mustafizur Rahman.
Next he turned his anger on the team. According to him, the killer instinct in them had suddenly gone. He also questioned the changes in the team, especially the move to drop Ajinkya Rahane in the second game.
Millions of angry and frustrated cricket lovers of India may agree with the views expressed by Bedi. But one has to be fair to Dhoni who has led India to win World Cups at home and abroad. His overall performance in One-day matches is, to say the least, brilliant.
No wonder, two former Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly immediately came to his defense after Bedi made the comment.
Ganguly said one must not take Dhoni’s plan to quit seriously.
“He said it in the heat of the moment … Everybody has to sit together and think. Don’t put MS Dhoni down, he has a terrific record in One-dayers. Give respect to him,” Ganguly told a Cannel.
When asked if he thinks Dhoni should continue as captain at least till 2016 World Twenty20, Ganguly said, “It’s not an individual decision. Let’s cool down, let the series be finished. Such a decision can’t be taken overnight.”
Gavaskar too said Dhoni deserved respect adding that he should be allowed to take a call on his future as captain of the ODI team.